Whiffletree.



'UNITED vsrrfrns lPATENT OFFICE.

WHIFFLETREE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 29, 1905.

Application led August 4, 1904. Serial No. 219.457.

To all whom, t may concern;

Be itknown that I, GUsTAvE F. DANinLsoN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Ypsilanti, in the county of Washtenaw and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Whiflietrees, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in whifHetrees, doubletrees, and other draft appliances which are formed wholly or in part of sheet metal; and its object is to provide a construction whereby such devices may be formed from a single sheet of metal and to provide the same with certain other new and useful features in their construction whereby they may be manufactured with greater facility and a much stronger, cheaper, and better-finished device secured, all as hereinafter more fully described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Fi ure.1 is an elevation of a portion of a doub etree embodying the invention Fig. 2,

' line 8 8.

a section of the same on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1 Fig. 3, a section on the line 3 3; Fig. 4, a section on the line 4 4. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a whiffletree with parts broken away to show the construction Fig. 6, a section of the same on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5 3 Fig. 7, alongitudinal section on theline 7 7 of Fig. 8 of a whiffletree embodying a modified form of draft-loop Fig. 8, a section of the same on the Fig. 9 is a detail of one end of the whiffletree with parts broken away to show the construction,and Figs. 10 and l1 are crosssections of modified forms of doubletree.

The body A of the doubletree or other article is formed from a single sheet of metal which is first folded upon itself along its longitudinal center lineto form the central longitudinal strengthening-rib B, and then the two edge portions of the metal are turned outwardly in opposite directions and bent around until their edges a meet close to the free edge t of the rib, thus forming the outer walls or shell C, which may be shaped as desired, it being preferably made substantially circular in form for a whiffletree and with parallel sides and edges with rounded corners for a doubletree. The modified form shown in Fig. 11 is substantially the same kas that shown in Fig. l, except that the sheet is folded vso as to form in cross-section a T-rib, the transverse portion c at the outer edge b of the rib forming a wide support for the edges a of the sheet. In Fig. 10 a T-rib is also shown but the metal is so folded that the edges of the sheet are on the inside, the edge portions lying close together to form the rib B and the edges d turned laterally in opposite directions to form the -transverse portion which lies along the inside of the closed edge of the article. The body A thus formed is firmly held in the form in which it is folded by securing encircling bands or rings thereon, the doubletree being provided with a wide band D at its middle, secured thereon by rivets D, extending through the rib B, shell C, and band, said rivets being provided with `shoulders D2 to engage the inner side of the shell and support the same and riveted down upon the outside of the band. A shouldered tubular member E also passes through openings in the rib, shell, and band and is riveted down upon the outer side of the band to receive the draft-bolt by means of which the doubletree is attached to the tongue or other article and also to assist in securing the parts firmly together.

The doubletree is held at each end and closed by a cap F, which is secured thereon by a tubular member F', similar tox the member E, the same assing through the rib, shell, and cap and) riveted down upon the outer side of the cap. These members F are adapted to receive draft e bolts by means of which the swingletrees are attached to the doubletrees. Intermediate the caps and band D rings G are provided to secure and strengthen the body.

In the form of whiflietree shown in Figs. 5 and 6 the body is held by plain rings H, one at a distance each side of the middle of the body, and end rings H, which may be driven on or otherwise secured in place and, if desired, may be provided with hooks (not shown) for the attachment of the harnesstugs. As shown in perspective in Fig. 9, the ends of the whiffletree are closed by so cutting the ends I of each web forming the rib B that when said projecting end portions I are bent in opposite directions and at right angles to the rib they will fill the space between it and the casing C, thus closing the ends, and by providing these portions with lugs I', proj ecting from their outer edges to engage notches in the casing, the ends are prevented from being accidentally bent inward. The portions I are turned outward before the rings H are driven on, and therefore when the rings are f0rced to place the casing will be IOO IIO

forced into contact with the edges of these outturned portions, which will thus be firmly held and will in turn form a strengtheningbrace and the ring will cover the lugs, forming a smooth finish. A draft-loop J is p-roa hollow sheet-metal body, a central .longitudinal rib within said body formed by folding the metal of the body inward at one side, integral end portions on said rib bent laterally each way from the rib and formed to fit vided between the rings H, consisting of a rodwithin the end of the body, lugs on said porbent U-shaped with outwardlyturned flat` tened ends vJ, and this loop is secured with its opposite ends one on each side of the rib B, to which it is secured by rivets J2, the edges a of the casing being cut away to fit around the rod..

In Fig. 7 a modified form of draft-loop is shown, the same consisting of a band or strap K kof heavy sheet metal wrapped around .the body .at .its middle and the ends K thereof extended outward from the body. These ends .are formed with a round opening and are rounded concentrically with said o eni-ng to form a loop, which loop is reinforcedlby .U- sha ed -stris K2, secured upon each side .of sai ends by rivets K3., passing through said strips kv and ends and securing lthe ends together.

By forming the body of the article from `a sinflesheet of metal .the parts 4are all integral an no brazing is required, and by providing the rib of a width to extend across the body a very strong `and rigid construction is secured.

l Having thus lfully described my invention, what I .claim as new is- 1. An article of manufacture consisting of a body portion formed from va single sheet of metal., said metal being folded longitudinally upon itself to form an internal rib and the free edges bent ylaterally and -around the rib to form the inclosing casing, with the edges ofthe metal meeting opposite the free edge of the rib.

2.. An article of manufacture consisting of a yb odyrportion formed from a single sheet of metal, said metal being folded longitudinally to forrrra T-shaped internal rib and bent outwardly each wayfrom and around said rib to forman inclosingcasing with the-edges ofthe metalmeeting at the outer side of and engaging ,the transverse portion of the rib.. v 3. Anarticle .of manufacture vconsisting of a hollow sheet-metal body, a rib within said body extending longitudinally thereof and formed of two thicknesses of sheet metal, and portionsonieach end of the rib .formed to fit ltheend of the body at each sideof the rib and bent laterally at right angles ,to the rib to illsaid ends.`

4. An article of manufacture consisting of tions to lengage notches in the body, `and a ring on each end of the body to force the same into contact with the edges of said portions.

5. In an article for draft purposes the combination of .a hollow `-sheet-n-Letal body formed with a central rib provided with an opening through .said rib and body, .a tubular shouldered rivet said opening to strengthen the body ,and adapted to forrn a continuous bearing for `a draft-holt.

6. In an article for draft purposes the combination yof .a hollow sheetFmetal body formed with .a -lcentral rib .and provided with openings, and .a `tubular rivet .in .one .of said openings having shoulders engaging the inner surface of the body and Ariveted down ,at its outerends -upon the router sulace .to form a continuous bearing-surface on its inside and rivets in the l.other open-ings. hav-ing shoulders engaging the inner surface .of the pody and riveted down upon the .outer `surace.

7. 1n an :article for draft purposes, .the

combination 4of -a sheet-metal body havingopenings in its sides and divided longitudinally along one ed e, a band encircling .said body and prov-ide with holes lopposite .said openings in the body, a tubular member in one of said openings and having `shoulders engaging the inner surface `of the body, .and rivets in the other openings havingshoulders engaging the inner surface of the body.

8. In an article for draft purposes, the combination of a .-sheetanetal body having -a longitudinally-extending internal rib and openings in its side opposite `said rib, and -a draft-loop yextending through said .open-ings and secured vat its inner ends `to said rib..

9. In varticle for draft purposes, .the combination of la sheet-metal body having a longitudinally extending internal r.ib .and openings in its side opposite said rib., and a U-shaped draft-loop hav-ing laterally-bent IOO ends engaging .said ,rib and .secured zthereto. 

